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Women’s Team Maintains Overall Standing
Another weekend, another win for the Northwest College men’s rodeo team.
Competing at the University of Montana last weekend, the men won their fifth consecutive rodeo of the spring and increased their lead in the Big Sky Region. The women’s team, meanwhile, placed third in Missoula and held its fifth place standing in the region.
“We had a good rodeo. I expected the worst and we got the best,” said head coach Del Nose.
Missoula had received some rain and with weather forecasts over the weekend, the team was expecting rain and a muddy arena which would mean handicaps.
“Turned out to be one of the perfect rodeos of the season. The ground was good, the weather was good and we were outdoors,” said Nose. “Everything kind of spun off that; the kids had good rodeos.”
MEN’S RODEO
At Missoula, the NWC men’s rodeo team finished first overall with 780 points. Placing second was University of Montana Western with 675 points and in third was Montana State University scoring 375 points.
Three NWC cowboys placed in the top five all-around — Bubba Boots, Caleb McMillan and Matthew Williams.
Boots finished second in the all-around with 210 points. He took fifth in tie down roping with a time of 30.6 seconds and, roping alongside Williams, earned a first place finish in team roping with a time of 15.8 seconds — 2.3 seconds faster than the runners-up.
Williams finished ninth in tie down roping with a time of 32.6 seconds.
Also competing in tie down roping was McMillan who won the event with a time of 26.8 seconds.
Jake Davis, meanwhile, finished second in bull riding with 74 points and Weston Mann placed second in saddle bronc with 63 points.
With the win in Missoula, the men’s rodeo team boosted its lead in the Big Sky Region by 105 points. The Trappers now have 5,748 points on the season, followed by University of Montana Western, with 5,111.5 points, and Montana State University with 3,632.5.
In the nation, the NWC men currently rank sixth, climbing two spots after last weekend’s rodeo.
Boots holds the lead in the all-around with 1,698 points. McMillan sits in third place with 1,210 points and Mann is fourth with 1,204.5 points.
In individual events, Mann ranks fourth in saddle bronc with 739.5 points and Austin Cutler is 14th with 22.50 points.
Orrin Ouska is in ninth place in bareback riding with 60 points.
Davis, 495 points, and McMillan, 488 points, are third and fourth, respectively, in bull riding
McMillan also holds the lead in tie down roping with 612 points, while Boots ranks third with 396.
Boots leads in steer wrestling with 649 points and in team roping with partner Williams with 653 points.
“This boys team is a really special team. I’ve never had this happen before and we’re excited about it and we’ll see what happens in Great Falls,” Nose said.
WOMEN’S RODEO
The Northwest College women’s rodeo team placed third at the University of Montana with 160 points. Finishing first was Montana State University with 620 points and in second was University of Great Falls with 210 points.
Sierra Lyons won barrel racing with a time of 35.31 seconds.
“Sierra had a tremendous rodeo, won the first round, went third in the second round and won the average,” said Nose. “Her horse was exceptional and she rode him really really well.”
In the Big Sky Region, the Lady Trappers held their fifth place position with 787.83 points. Montana State University has the lead with 4,054.5 points.
Lyons sits in seventh place in barrel racing with 345 points and is in 10th place in goat tying with 232.
Today (Thursday) through Saturday, the rodeo team will compete at the University of Great Falls for the last rodeo of the spring portion of the season. Then comes the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, June 11-17.